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Los Angeles Times Endorses Kelly Gonez for School Board

February 8, 2017

For Immediate Release

LOS ANGELES – This morning the Los Angeles Times officially endorsed Kelly Gonez for District 6 School Board.

“I am honored to receive such recognition from the Los Angeles Times,” said Kelly Gonez. “In my own classroom, I see firsthand the obstacles that many of the students in our community face each day. As your school board member, I will work with the entire community to provide a great education and bright future for ALL students.”

On the endorsement, the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board wrote:

“…Gonez stands out as the one to replace Monica Ratliff in the district covering the eastern San Fernando Valley.”

“A charter-school math and science teacher who also has worked for the U.S. Department of Education on matters concerning vulnerable students, she is well-versed in both classroom realities and big-picture policies.”

“In addition to being a strong new voice in her own right, Gonez would be good for the board as a whole. She’s a collaborative presence who might help cut through some of the endless debate with calm, informed reason.”

Read the full statement below.

Kelly resides in Sylmar with her husband, Manuel. She currently teaches 7th grade science at a STEM-focused charter middle sc shool in LAUSD.

Among a pack of a half-dozen candidates, Gonez stands out as the one to replace Monica Ratliff in the district covering the eastern San Fernando Valley. A charter-school math and science teacher who also has worked for the U.S. Department of Education on matters concerning vulnerable students, she is well-versed in both classroom realities and big-picture policies.

Gonez correctly identifies key priorities for the school district: tackling the budget; building a strong cadre of magnet and other schools that keep families in the district, without demonizing charter schools; and lobbying heavily for proper funding for special education students.

She brings nuance to her positions: Tying students’ scores on standardized tests to teacher evaluations is the wrong policy, she rightly says, because there’s no evidence that it improves instruction or achievement. Raising graduation rates with last-minute cram courses degrades the value of a diploma.

In addition to being a strong new voice in her own right, Gonez would be good for the board as a whole. She’s a collaborative presence who might help cut through some of the endless debate with calm, informed reason.